Heavy-duty audio equipment

ABSTRACT

In accordance with the present invention, an improved audio equipment is employed. The audio equipment includes a housing, audio circuitry installed within the housing, and a first protective bar flexibly connected to the housing. The audio equipment may also include a handle attached to the first protective bar, a second protective bar flexibly connected to the housing, and/or a connector assembly flexibly connecting the first protective bar to the housing. The connector assembly may include a flexible gasket preferably disposed between the first protective bar and the housing. Also disclosed herein is a method for manufacturing an audio equipment.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/262,751, filed Mar. 4,1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,427,070.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to audio equipment and, moreparticularly, to heavy-duty radios.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well known that audio equipment, such as portable radios, aretaken to construction sites, so that the construction workers can listento music, talk shows, etc., while working. However, the audio equipmentmay be destroyed at the jobsite because tools may be dropped on them.Similarly, the equipment may fall from a table, etc., resulting indamage thereto.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an audioequipment that can withstand the rigors of a jobsite.

Furthermore, because construction workers have different cordless powertools, it would be beneficial if the audio equipment would receive therechargeable battery packs used with the power tools in order to chargethe battery packs and/or power the audio equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, an improved audio equipment isemployed. The audio equipment includes a housing, audio circuitryinstalled within the housing, and at least one protective covering,shell or bar flexibly connected to the housing. Preferably, a handle maybe attached to the protective covering.

Further disclosed is a method for charging a battery pack comprising thesteps of providing an audio equipment component having a power supply, aradio circuit connected to the power supply and a charger connected tothe power supply, disposing the battery pack in the charger, providingpower to the battery pack for recharging, and removing the battery packfrom the charger. The battery pack can then be inserted into a powertool.

Additional features and benefits of the present invention are described,and will be apparent from, the accompanying drawings and the detaileddescription below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of theinvention according to the practical application of the principlesthereof, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational of an audio equipment according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the audio equipment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the audio equipment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along line IV—IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the circuitry of the audio equipment ofFIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along line VI—VI of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention is now described with reference to the accompanyingfigures, wherein like numerals designate like parts. Referring to FIGS.1-3, an audio equipment component, such as radio 10, of the presentinvention comprises a housing 11. Housing 11 may support the radiocircuitry (not shown), the speakers 12 connected to the radio circuitry,the volume, tuning and switch knobs (15, 16 and 17 respectively),antenna 14, and auxiliary input jack 13.

Preferably speakers 12 and part of housing 11 are coated with awaterproof coating, such as a rubber coating or paint. Alternatively,other waterproofing schemes may be used for protecting the speakers 12.For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,391,754, 2,829,728, and 2,517,138 discloseappropriate waterproofing schemes and are hereby incorporated byreference.

The knobs may also comprise waterproofing means for impeding entry ofwater into housing 11. Such means may include walls created on thehousing 11 and/or the knobs, creating a labyrinth passage for water.Alternatively, other waterproofing schemes may be used for the knobs.For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,391,754, 3,277,739, 2,502,915 and1,162,793 disclose appropriate waterproofing schemes and are herebyincorporated by reference.

Antenna 14 is preferably constructed of a flexible material, allowingantenna 14 to bend without breaking.

Preferably, at least one protective covering, shield, or shell isflexibly connected to the housing 11. An example of this protectivecovering is protective bar 20. Such covering or shield, e.g., bar 20,may be made of aluminum, or other suitable material. Preferably,covering or shield, e.g., bar 20 is made of a plastic, such as ABS orpolypropylene. The covering or shield, e.g., bar 20, may beinjection-molded. Alternatively, when the covering or shield is shapedas a bar, the plastic may be injected into a mold (preferably about halfthe volume needed to complete fill the mold and thus filling half of themold), then air or gas is blown therein, pushing the plastic into theother half of the mold, forming a hollow tube. This process is known asgas-assist injection molding.

Preferably, the protective covering or shield is comprised of two bars20 which are formed in respective loops and are connected to arespective side of housing 11. The protective covering or shield mayalso include a handle 21, which may be fixedly attached to the bars 20via, e.g., screws (not shown). Preferably, the shape of bars 20 and/orhandle 21 is such that the housing 11 cannot be contacted by anythingwider than the handle 21 and/or bars 20. Such construction minimizes therisk of damage to housing 11, but still allows access to the workingcomponents of the radio and/or does not muffle the sound produced by thespeakers.

Persons skilled in the art will recognize that the protective shield orbar 20 are preferably are releasably attached to the housing by coactingfasteners, such as screws, bolts, etc. By adapting protective shield orbar 20 in this manner, a user can replace parts of the protective shieldor one bar 20 when damaged without incurring the expense of replacingentire shield, all bars 20 or radio 10.

As mentioned above, the protective shield or bars 20 may be flexiblyconnected to the housing. Such connection is achieved via the connectorassemblies 30. Referring to FIG. 4, a connector assembly 30 is disposedbetween the bar 20 and housing 11. The connector assembly 30 comprises aflexible gasket 31, which is preferably made of a flexible, resilientmaterial such as rubber or an elastometer. The gasket 31 may beconnected to the bar 20 via a screw 34 threadedly engaging a nut 35. Thegasket 31 in turn may be connected to the housing 11 via a screw 32threadedly engaging a nut 33. Gasket 31 may be molded over screw 32and/or nut 35. Such construction minimizes the shock received by housing11, and thus by the circuitry mounted within, when radio 10 is dropped.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 6, housing 11 may also have a door 19 pivotallyattached thereto, providing access to receptacle assembly 50 andallowing an operator to install a battery pack 60 within housing 11. Thedoor 19 may be kept in a closed position by latch 18. Preferably, latch18 comprises an overcenter mechanism.

Door 19 may have a gasket 19G disposed thereon to limit the ingress ofwater into, if not wholly waterproof, receptacle assembly 15. Preferablygasket 19G is made of rubber or an elastomeric material. Persons skilledin the art will recognize that the gasket 19G may be disposed on housing11 and perform the same function.

Preferably, receptacle assembly 50 is designed to receive a battery pack60 via a connector 56. The connector 56 has a configuration appropriateto contact the battery terminals. Preferably the battery pack terminalsand connector 56 will be arranged in the manner disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 5,144,217, which is hereby incorporated in whole by reference.

The charger circuitry 43 may be fixedly connected to both connector 56and receptacle assembly 50. Connector 56 preferably disposed on afloating receptacle housing 55, to minimize the shock received by thebattery pack 60 and the circuitry 43 if the radio 10 is dropped. Chargercircuitry 43 allows charging of battery packs having different voltages,as is well known in the art.

The receptacle housing 55 may be flexibly connected to the housing 11via a flexible gasket 51. Preferably, gasket 51 is generally annular andmade of a flexible, resilient material, such as rubber or elastometer.

Retainers 52 may be installed on housing 11 to prevent the disengagementof gasket 51 and housing 11 when pushing the battery pack 60 in place.Retainers 52 may be attached to housing 11 via screws 53 and may have agenerally annular form. Retainers 52 may also prevent the removal ofreceptacle housing 55 when removing the battery pack 60 by providing astopping surface which would contact the charger circuitry board 43.

A spring 54 may also be provided on door 19 to bias battery pack 60 intoconnection with connector 56. Preferably spring 54 will be flexibleenough to bias battery packs having different sizes.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the circuitry within housing 11. Chargercircuitry 43 is connected to a power supply 40. Power supply 40 mayreceive power from an alternating current source via connector 41 and/orfrom charger 43 when a battery pack is being used as the power sourcefor the radio 10. In addition, power supply 40 provides power to charger43 in order to charge battery pack 60 even while the radio 10 is inoperation.

Power supply 40 also provides power to radio circuitry 44. A switchingmeans 42 may be connected to switch knob 17 to properly select thecomponents receiving power. For example, the user can select if thepower supply 40: (a) provides power to both the radio circuitry 44 andto charger 43 (for charging battery pack 60); (b) provides power to theradio circuitry 44 from the battery pack 60; (c) provides no power toany component; etc. Switching means 42 may comprise relays, transistorsor other switching devices as is well known in the art. Preferably powersupply 40 can accept power from battery packs having different voltages.

Radio circuitry 44 may comprise three main modules: (a) radio tuner 45for receiving and demodulating the radio signal received via antenna 14;(b) amplifier 46 connected to tuner 45 for amplifying the demodulatedradio signal; and (c) speakers 12 connected to amplifier 46 forconverting the amplified signal into audible signals. Amplifier 46 mayalso amplify signals received from an auxiliary input 13, allowing auser to play a separate cassette deck or compact disk player through theradio 10.

Persons skilled in the art should recognize that the specific circuitryfor each component is well known in the art. For example, radiocircuitry 44 may include an FM Front End integrated circuit, such as theSanyo LA1186N used in a well-known manner, in combination with a lowfrequency power amplifier integrated circuit, such as the ToshibaTA8227P used in a well-known manner. Persons skilled in the art arereferred to the specifications of these two integrated circuits forfurther information on the standard usage, capabilites, parameters, etc.

Moreover, the radio circuitry 44 may be replaced with other circuitryfor producing audio signals to the speakers via circuitry used with acassette deck, compact disk or other methods to play music.

Preferably charger 43 is shielded with a metal covering, such as lead,copper, gold, etc., so as to not affect the reception, processing and/oramplification of the radio signal. Similarly, charger 43 can be providedwith induction coils, or other types of filters, so as to minimize theeffect of the charger on the radio signal, etc.

With such construction, for example, a user can charge a battery pack bydisposing the battery pack 60 in the charger 43, providing power to thebattery pack 60, and removing the battery pack 60 from the charger 43.The battery pack 60 can then be inserted into a power tool, such asdrill 100 (FIG. 5). In other words, the user can listen to the radio 10while charging the battery pack 60. Alternatively, the user can manuallyswitch the power supply 40 so that the radio circuitry 43 receives theoperating power from the battery pack 60, rather than from thealternating current source.

Persons skilled in the art may recognize other alternatives to the meansdisclosed herein. However, all these additions and/or alterations areconsidered to be equivalents of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a housing; a chargerdisposed within the housing; a receptacle in the charger; a batterypack, detachably connectable to a power tool, mounted in the receptacle;an audio circuit disposed within the housing for producing an audiosignal comprising audio unrelated to the charger; a first electricalcircuit for charging the battery pack and for powering the audiocircuit; and a connector for connecting the first electrical circuit toa power source.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the connector isadapted for connection to an AC power source, and the apparatus furthercomprising a second electrical circuit connectable to the battery packfor powering the audio circuit when the connector is disconnected froman AC power source.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the audiocircuit is a radio circuit.
 4. An apparatus comprising: a housing; acharger disposed within the housing for charging a power tool batterypack detachably connectable to a power tool; an audio circuit disposedwithin the housing for producing an audio signal comprising audiounrelated to the charger; a power supply circuit disposed within thehousing for providing power to at least one of the charger and the audiocircuit; and a connector for connecting the power supply circuit to apower source.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the connector isadapted for connection to an AC power source.
 6. The apparatus of claim4, further comprising an electrical circuit connectable to the batterypack for powering the audio circuit when the connector is disconnectedfrom an AC power source.
 7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the audiocircuit is a radio circuit.
 8. A method for charging a power toolbattery pack comprising: providing an audio equipment component having ahousing, a power supply disposed within the housing, a charger disposedwithin the housing, an audio circuit disposed within the housing forproducing an audio signal comprising audio unrelated to the charger, theaudio circuit being connected to the power supply; connecting thecharger to the power supply; connecting the battery pack to the charger;providing power to the battery pack; and disconnecting the battery packfrom the charger.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising insertingthe battery pack into a power tool.
 10. The method of claim 8, furthercomprising providing power to the audio circuit while providing power tothe battery pack.
 11. The method of claim 8, further comprising manuallyswitching the power supply to provide power to the audio circuit fromthe battery pack.
 12. The method of claim 8, wherein the audio circuitis a radio circuit.